The name comes from the grey colour of the Grisette Amanita vaginata. Both species are found in woodland, usually as solitary individuals, and are edible. Some other species in the genus are deadly poisonous.

This is a common woodland mushroom found on rotting trees stumps or rotting fallen trees. Sometimes many clumps can be found on a small area of woodland but, more usually, one or two widely spaced ones is more the usual experience. Anyway, it is usually possible to find a photogenic clump, even better if it is bathed in a shaft of sunlight.